Zen tales

Object theatre
2 performers

In Zen Tales, the heroes are monks or noble warriors. Each one’s body is a vegetable or a fruit that reveals its personality. The puppeteers’ moves are as steady and minimalist as a calligrapher’s stroke or a cook’s slice, as ritualistic as the art of serving tea, and as amusing and inventive as the art of the object allows!

Created in 2018 by Olivier Ducas and Karine St-Arnaud, the show Zen Tales was inspired by traditional Zen tales. First conceived in a short form (15 minutes), it was then created and presented in its full version for the first time at the Théâtre Aux Écuries in 2020. Infinitely adaptable, the show has already performed in Korea, Senegal, France, Ontario, in gardens, or at food markets…The main characters of the play, embodied by fruits and vegetables, are chosen according to the seasons and countries crossed. Most of the time, it even happens that they are cooked and eaten and by the artists after the performance!

Running time: 50 minutes

A Théâtre de la Pire Espèce production